18 SERUM SHBG/IGF-I DURING EARLY AND LATE PREPUBERTY IN CHILDREN WITH IDIOPHATHIC (I) AND ORGANIC (Or) GH DEFICIENCY

Abstract

Idiopathic GH deficiency (I) is secondary to multiple ill-defined etiologies. Some children show symptoms in early prepuberty (early onset) viiile others show a decrease in their growth rate in the rate prepubertal years (late onset). We measured two GH-dependent serum parameters (SHBG and IGF-I) in 15 patients with I, either younger (Grl, n=10) or older (Gr2, n=5) than 7 years of age (y) at diagnosis, as well as in 11 patients with oceanic GH deficiency (Or), secondary to intracranial tumors, younger (Gr3, n=5) or older (Gr4, n=6) than 7 y, and in 52 control (C) subjects, younger (Gr5, n=18) or older (Gr6, n=34) than 7 y. Children younger than 7 y had not started adrenal puberty as evaluated by serum DHA sulfate. Mean±Sd ages in Gr1 (2.68±2.49y), Gr3 and Gr5 and in Gr2(10.3±1.95y), Gr4 and Gr6 were not statistically different. GH deficiency was diagnosed after 2 pharmacological tests for GH release. Serum T₄ and T₃ were normal in all patients. SHBG was determined by saturation analysis ana IGF-I by RIA. Serum SHBG (nmol/L) and serum IGF-I (U/L) were respectively, as follows (X̄+SD): Grl:154±58 and 0.06±0.06; Gr3:79.6±24.4 and 0.22±0.16; Gr5:132±47 and 0.47±0.25;Gr2:108±17.4 and 0.17±0.11;Gr4:113±72 and 0.32±0.16;Gr6:68.7±31.7 and 1.04±0.36. In patients younger than 7 y, both SBEG and IGF-I were statistically different (p<0.01) vhen comparing I vs Or, while in patients older than 7 y no difference was found. Patients with early onset I seem, to differ from late onset I. Lower IGF-I might be related, not only to age, but also to a longer (usually prenatal) and note severe GH deficiency.

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